Chrysanthemum plant named `Red Champion`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named Red Champion is provided. The new cultivar is a spontaneous mutation of the Champion cultivar (U.S. Ser. No. 08/202,201, filed concurrently herewith). The new cultivar forms attractive flat bi-toned reddish anemone flowers with a more intense coloration at the cushion. The plant exhibits a reduced susceptibility to leafminers, and the flowers exhibit a good vase life. The response period of the flowers is approximately seven to eight weeks. The new cultivar is particularly suited for use in the production throughout the year of a cut anemone spray or a pot mum under greenhouse conditions. An excellent tolerance to high temperatures is exhibited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat.,and hereinafter is referred to by the cultivar name Red Champion.Alternatively, the botanical classification sometimes is expressed asDendranthema indicum.

The new Red Champion cultivar is a spontaneous mutation of unknowncausation which was discovered and carefully preserved during the courseof plant selection work which was conducted by me. The new cultivar wasdiscovered during April 1991 among plants of the Champion cultivar (U.S.Ser. No. 08/202,201, filed concurrently herewith) being grown under mydirect supervision at De Lier, The Netherlands.

It was found that a single plant consistently formed flat bi-tonedreddish anemone flowers (as illustrated) unlike the flat bi-toned pinkanemone flowers of the Champion cultivar. All of the othercharacteristics of the new Red Champion cultivar were found to besubstantially identical to those of the Champion cultivar. Thedistinctive mutant plant initially was designated 9104-822. Had I notdiscovered, carefully studied, and preserved this new cultivar, it wouldhave been lost to mankind.

It was found that the new Chrysanthemum cultivar of the presentinvention:

(a) exhibits attractive flat bi-toned reddish anemone flowers whereinthe disc florets are darker than the ray florets,

(b) exhibits a flower response period of approximately seven to eightweeks,

(c) forms flowers that exhibit a good vase life,

(d) exhibits a reduced susceptibility to leafminers, and

(e) has the ability to produce flowers of commercially acceptablequality throughout the year.

Cut flowers of the new cultivar commonly last approximately 14 days whenplaced in pure water following transport simulation for 2 days whenpresent in a sleeve and boxed at room temperature. When present as a potmum, the flowers commonly last approximately 3 weeks after thesimulation of one week of darkness at 15° C.

The susceptibility to leafminers of the new cultivar is less than thatof the standard resistant Penny Lane cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No.6,238) and is more resistant than that of the standard susceptible DarkPink Pompon cultivar (non-patented in the United States).

The new cultivar exhibits an excellent tolerance to high temperatures.Commonly Chrysanthemum plants are grown in greenhouses in TheNetherlands while using nighttime temperatures of approximately 18° to20° C., and daytime temperatures of approximately 18° C. withventilation from 22° C. The Red Champion cultivar has been successfullygrown during the summer in greenhouses wherein the temperature isapproximately 6° C. higher during the daytime. Quality flowers can beproduced throughout the year in a cut mum or a pot mum productionprogram especially when grown in a 12 cm. pot. The flowers exhibit agood breaking ability.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by vegetative cuttings areperformed at De Lier, The Netherlands, in a controlled environment hasdemonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar as hereindisclosed are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual propagation.

Red Champion has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, day length, contact with pesticides, and/or subjectionto growth retardant treatments.

When the new cultivar of the present invention is compared to the Tascacultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,944), the Red Champion cultivar is foundto exhibit a smaller flower size, a shorter response period, and a moreintense coloration of the ray florets. The anemone type of flower,abundance of flowering, and excellent tolerance to high temperatures aresimilar to that exhibited by the Tasca cultivar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character, atypical specimen of an overall plant of the new cultivar. The plant wasgrown under greenhouse conditions at De Lier, The Netherlands.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described hereinafter isthe R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England. The color values were determined between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00noon under natural daylight conditions at De Lier, The Netherlands,during April of 1992. The plants described were grown under standardgreenhouse conditions which approximate those commonly utilized for theproduction of cut mums.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat., cv. Red Champion.

Commercial.--Cut anemone spray, or pot mum.

Inflorescence:

A. Capitulum.--Form.--Flat.

Type.--l Anemone.

Diameter across face.--Approximately 35 mm. on average.

Diameter across disc.--Varies considerably and commonly can range fromapproximately 8 to 35 mm. under greenhouse growing conditions.

B. Corolla of ray and disc florets.--Color (General tonality from adistance of three meters).--Reddish with the adaxial coloration commonlybeing lighter. Color Disc florets.--When immature Greyed-Purple group183A to 183B, and approaches Greyed-Red Group 179A on the upper surfaceand 179B on the under surface when fully mature. The coloration lightensas flowers mature (as illustrated). The disc florets are darker than theray florets (as illustrated). Color ray florets. When immatureGreyed-Red Group 179A on the upper surface and Greyed-Red Group 176D onthe under surface. The coloration lightens as the flowers mature (asillustrated). For instance the ray floret coloration on the uppersurface approaches Greyed-Red Group 179D when fully mature.

C. Reproductive organs.--Androecium--Not present. Gynoecium.--Present indisc florets and in ray florets.

Plant:

General appearance.--Height.-- Medium tall. A height of approximately 30to 40 cm. commonly is achieved throughout the year while utilizing anAlar growth retardant.

B. Foliage.--Color (abaxial).--Green Group 138A. Color (adaxial.--GreenGroup 137A to 137B. Shape.-- Cordate.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named RedChampion substantially as herein shown and described, which:(a) exhibitsattractive flat bi-toned reddish anemone flowers wherein the discflorets are darker than the ray florets, (b) exhibits a flower responseperiod of approximately seven to eight weeks, (c) forms flowers thatexhibit a good vase life, (d) exhibits a reduced susceptibility toleafminers, and (e) has the ability to produce flowers of commerciallyacceptable quality throughout the year.